Herb Profile: Plantain

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Plantain-Backyard Healing Herb
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » Herb Profile: Plantain

Plantain is a useful herb that is often considered a weed by most people.

It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, but was said to have been introduced to North America when the settlers came from Europe. It’s scientific name is Plantago Major, and it likely grows in your yard.

The leaves are actually edible and somewhat similar to spinach, though slightly more bitter. They can be used in salads or other culinary uses.

We dry and freeze the leaf from our yard and I also order it in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Herbal Uses

The leaves can also be made into a tea or tincture, and this is said to help with indigestion, heartburn and ulcers when taking internally.

Externally, Plantain has been used for insect and snake bites, and as a remedy for rashes and cuts. I use it in making my Homemade Healing Salve, which we use as a natural antibiotic ointment on cuts and bruises.

Its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it great for speeding recover of wounds, and for itching or pain associated with skin problems. A tea made from the leaf leaf can be sprayed on mosquito bites to ease the itch.

From Mountain Rose Herbs:

Plantain has been used as a panacea in some Native American cultures and with some very good reasons. Many of its active constituents show antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, as well as being anti-inflammatory and antitoxic. The leaves, shredded or chewed, are a traditional treatment for insect and animal bites and the antibacterial action helps prevent infection and the anti-inflammatory helps to relieve pain, burning, and itching. There is some investigation ongoing to study its affects on lowering blood sugar.

When we are bitten by mosquitos, stung by bees, or come in contact with spiders or other insects, I use a salve containing plantain leaf (or just chew the leaves and apply to the bite) to help ease the reaction. I also used a this salve and and a poultice of the leaves when my son was bitten by a brown recluse and continued this daily for about 2 weeks and his skin never decayed at the bite.

A tea, tincture or salve made with plantain also greatly eases the itch of poison ivy, oak, or sumac and I keep it on hand for this reason.

A tea or infusion of the leaf  can be poured into the ear for ear infections (as long as the ear drum has not burst) to ease the pain and shorten duration of ear infections.

There is unconfirmed information that a strong tea of this herb, taken internally, can help protect the body from the effects of chemotherapy and that a strong infusion can improve blood sugar. While taking plantain in these situations would generally be considered safe, one should still check with an attending physician before doing so.

I also make a lotion with plantain, calendula and coconut oil and it is extremely helpful for any skin irritation, including mosquito bites, eczema, psoriasis, chicken pox, rashes and sores.

Where to Find

Most people are able to find this common herb in their own yards. If you live in an area where your yard is sprayed with chemicals or fertilizer, organic dried leaves can also be ordered online. If you prefer pre-made remedies, there are: plantain leaf first aid ointment for kids, plantain tincture, and plantain and goldenseal pre-made salve (natural Neosporin). If you can’t find Plantain in your area, you can actually order the seeds to plant Plantain (though your neighbors might think you are crazy!)

Plantain Precautions

Plantain is good for injuries because of its coagulating properties, but those with blood disorders or prone to blood clots should not use Plantain internally. If harvesting it yourself, make sure to get from an area that has not been sprayed with any chemicals or pesticides and make sure that you have correctly identified the plant before consuming.

Ever used plantain or another herb that grows in your back yard? Tell me about it below!

Plantain is a healing herb that probably grows in your backyard! It is helpful for cuts, stings, burns, bruises, infections and more!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

126 responses to “Herb Profile: Plantain”

  1. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Please be sure to mention Ribwort Plantain. There is a second variety with a narrower leaf that is just as helpful!

  2. Mary Avatar

    This is great! I just started using plantain a few days ago – a spit-poultice for a hemorrhoid (we all have butts, right? lol) I’d been treating it with Preparation H, but it’s so greasy & icky and only worked for a couple of hours and then i’d have to reapply. The plantain poultice i noticed IMMEDIATE RELIEF… that wasn’t greasy & gross… and it didn’t come back in 2 hours. In fact, it never came back AT ALL. Since it worked so well for that, I thought i’d try making tea to see if it would do anything to help the constant throat irritation i have due to GERD & a few years of silent reflux. Didn’t work immediately… but a few hours later i realized i hadn’t been clearing my throat and coughing constantly! Tried it again yesterday – same results! I’ve been dealing with this stuff so long it’s literally driving me INSAAAANE so i am very happy to realize there is a plant in my back yard that can bring me more relief than anything ive bought at the store.

    I actually just hopped onto google and searched “useful weeds for healing wounds” as i’ve got a touch of what is either poison ivy, or just a burn i don’t remember getting. The blister ripped off like paper when i touched it and now it hurts SO BAD. This was the first listing that popped up…. and it’s my plantain! I really do love this plant A LOT.

  3. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Love this site I have learn so much here, I actually prepare plantain medication for my stomach ulcer and it helpful .

  4. Lucian Avatar
    Lucian

    Im from the caribbean and plantain grows just about everywhere.i never knew plantain could be used on insect bites and wounds.i usually drink the tea for hoarseness associated with colds.very valuable info
    Love the site and all the helpful comments.thanks guys.

  5. Natalie B Avatar
    Natalie B

    I have been making plantain salve and sharing it with others and hearing back from them on some great results. I am wondering about using it to lower blood sugar. My hubby is diabetic and his A1C is running about 10. Need to get this done and maybe even decrease his insulin. He takes Humalog and Lantus as well as Metformin. Any personal experiences would be helpful. Thank you! Natalie

  6. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    My cousin broke some up and put it on a rash on the top of my hand over the weekend, woke up the next day and the rash is so much better. It’s still there for now but I’m going out tomorrow to collect some more plantain leaves for it.

  7. Ralph Bradshaw Avatar
    Ralph Bradshaw

    I suffer skin blisters if I saty too long in the sun with no natural sunblock, applying plantain tincture to the irritation takes away the itch and heals the blisters… a few hours ago I stepped on a 3/4 inch glass shard which penetrated my big toe 1/2 inch, pulled out the shard, let wound drain a bit then applied a poultice of plantain tincture, woke up this morning with no pain and wound closed , changed bandage with another poultice, I think that will be fine now.. A wonderful medicine!!! I have tamed it into large pots now and it grows prolifically

  8. Barbara Avatar
    Barbara

    I just accidentally found this site when I was looking for a picture of plantain which my neighbor wanted to pull up because she said it was just a weed, I said Let It Grow because it’s a wildflower and I’m sure it’s useful for something, and even if it isn’t, it’s not poisonous or anything. I didn’t realize it was edible and has all these medicinal properties! This is a fascinating site and I am learning a lot from everyone sharing their posts! I have used jewelweed for poison ivy itches but never tried plantain leaves.

    As for edible weeds growing in your yard, wood sorrel leaves are delicious! The leaves look like clover but it has yellow five petaled flowers; the leaves are delicious and taste like lemon! As for edible flowers, violets and nasturtiums are delicious! Also Queen Anne’s Lace is also known as wild carrot, and you can eat the root! I dig it up and wash off the dirt, and it’s like a skinny white carrot… there are a lot of edible wild plants growing out there, but you just have to be careful that they haven’t been sprayed. We never used any chemicals or pesticides in our yard so my children grew up foraging in their own backyard 🙂 the neighbors thought we were strange but look what they were missing! Gifts from God…

  9. Eve Avatar

    Where I am from in Southern Germany, we collect this herb in autumn, create layers with honey or sugar in an earthen ware dish or a glass jar with lid. We then dig a hole into the soil so it is completely covered and leave it until next spring. Once frost has gone, we get it and a dark brown kind of sticky liquid has developed (etheric oils and honey, sugar). It is an amazing cough juice for children!

  10. Jos Avatar

    I have used plantain, both dried and fresh, in my mouth as a poultice for gum infections. or following gum surgery It both soothes and draws out infection. Fresh leaves I mash with my fingers and wilt in hot water before applying. Dried herb I moisten after putting some in a folded section of paper towel. I hope this helps someone like it did me.

  11. Jenna Avatar

    I pulled a stupid and reached into my Kitchenaid bowl while the dough hook was turning and it pinched my hand against the side of the bowl while the side of the hook crushed/rolled against the back of my hand. Some very dark bruises started to appear immediately as well as some swelling. The area started to throb and I could tell this was going to be a very painful injury. I needed the use of my hand as I was in the middle of making dinner for some guests that were to arrive shortly so I quickly ran outside, found some plantain and threw it into my mouth to chew up as I ran back into the house. I spit the poultice onto my hand and covered it with large bandaids. Right away the pain went away and there was a cooling sensation in the area. I could use my hand like nothing happened. The next morning I took the bandage off and the bruises are pretty much gone and the inflammation was also gone. The area is still tender to the touch as I think the bones are bruised but I will keep putting plantain leaves on it to see if it helps heal that too.

  12. R.D. Avatar

    Aloha all, Oh yes i have used it and eaten it whereever I can find it. I learned about it in Hawai’i, from my neighbor, she was growing it and making tea out of the leaves, and I found some oil online for the skin, and drops, but haven’t tried the salve, I use CBD and Black seed (cumin) oil and salves too, this is the ticket. HEMP rocks. I found some in Chicago too, in summer of course, all over my friends yards and all her neighbors, its a gold mine of this stuff out there. They thought I was nuts for picking it and putting in the salad and eating it straight. Tastes like mushrooms. I want to grow it here in Calif but I have only come across one plant so far, out in the planter at a jiffy lube. The nursery doesn’t seem to carry it. Aloha and Mahalo

  13. Beth Avatar

    This past June my education team took our students to a park for the day and one of our students got stung by a bee on her eye lid. I had read about plantain, but never used it. I quickly checked the ground, found some, chewed it and plastered it on her eye lid. She kept it on and by the end of the day you couldn’t tell that she had been stung. My co teachers were at first aghast at what I did but came away true believers. I am using it right now for some poison ivy! Thanks for sharing all these great stories. I enjoyed learning about other uses for this amazing plant.

  14. Dawn Avatar

    Kim,
    You are correct, there is a type of banana called plantain, and then there is the herb.
    Edible plantain as in cooking type like a banana belongs to the genus Musa, as do all
    other bananas.
    The one in the yard is of course Plantago Major, and I believe it’s also edible.

  15. Ginger Avatar

    Can you eat this? If so, for what ailment and will need recipes…thank you

  16. Katie O Avatar
    Katie O

    Thank you for the great article Katie! I learn so much from you! I just needed some clarification before I started chowing down on some of the plantain I found: can you use Ribwort (or narrow leaf) plantain the same as broadleaf? Thanks a ton!

  17. Judy Blower Avatar
    Judy Blower

    Sherie,
    Just wondering if the plantain is working for you. I hope you are finding some good plants to use. You should see my yard. I have the most beautiful ‘weeds’ growing in it!! I’m so proud of my plantain! LOL

  18. Jerry Avatar

    God gave us natural substances for a reason, so thank you for sharing this amazing herbal info.

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